The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has recommended that the Department of Defense (DoD) determine ways to communicate its list of critical technologies, acquisition programs and manufacturing capabilities within DoD and to other agencies, come up with metrics to evaluate protection efforts and designate an organization to oversee future protection measures.
“By determining the approach for completing these tasks, DoD can better ensure its revised process will support the protection of critical acquisition programs and technologies consistently across the department,” GAO said in a report published Tuesday.
The Pentagon’s revised process to better protect critical technologies and acquisition programs is composed of four steps: identify, communicate, protect and assess, and oversee. GAO said the department started executing the updated process in February 2020. DoD officials expect to execute all the steps in the process by September 2021.
“Officials from the Departments of State, Commerce, and the Treasury stated that they could use the list, if it is effectively communicated, to better understand what is important to DOD to help ensure protection through their respective programs,” the report reads.
